AFL Finals Week 1

Finals footy is here and it feels like it’s been an eternity since the season ended. This bye before the finals is rubbish but that’s for another day. With the finals kicking off on Thursday night it’s another twist on the weekend for footy. Only time will tell if the break has done teams good or bad but one thing is for sure there is plenty of excitement around the finals this year. The Bombers are back in, the mighty Tigers are back in town. Not to mention the Swans unbelievable run into the finals and west coasts dramatic last minute grab of the final spot in the top eight.

Adelaide v GWS

The Giants are yet to taste victory in Adelaide in their short time in the AFL but are back for their second go at the finals. The Giants have been a bit off colour in the past few rounds and don’t quite look the side they should be or could be. The Crows just look impregnable, they are the most professional team going in the AFL there is very little hat shakes their team. They have a high power offence but is their team defence that makes them so good. Unless the Giants can come back from the break refreshed and ready to play the footy we expect this game will be played on the Crows terms and they will slowly grind the Giants down.
Predict Adelaide win 30 points

Geelong v Richmond

It does not get much bigger than this in September, the Richmond Tigers are back but how will they go. There has been so much hype around this team leading into finals the Tiger bandwagon is overflowing. The Cats welcome back their heart n soul in Joel Selwood and will give them a huge lift. This may possibly be the tightest contest of the weekend and with over 90000 people expected at the MCG it should be an absolute treat. The Tigers have not won a final in over a decade and have only beaten the Cats once in their past 20 attempts. How do the Tigers handle all the pressure on them this is one of the biggest test this team will face. The Cats are battle hardened and would love nothing more than to knock the cocky Tigers off their perch. This game could go either way, if the Tigers make it a dour defensive game they win if the Cats get running and scoring they win. Their seems to be a bit of destiny about this Richmond side but tonight will be the first step in their finals run.
Predict Richmond win 4 points

Sydney v Essendon

Two of the best stories of the year, the Bombers after the past few seasons of hell is over and the Bombers have found themselves back in the finals and are a real wild card. The Swans have made the biggest turn around in AFL history making the finals after losing the first six games. Who could forget the amazing game these two put on earlier in the year when the Swans somehow managed to steal the win after the siren. This game could be anything, the Bombers are capable of so much at times but the swans are the Swans are one of the flag favourites. If the Bombers can get a jump on the Swans early they may be able to hold them off but in a tight contest or of the Swans get rolling early it and if the occasion gets the better of the Bombers the they could be in trouble.
Predict Sydney win 37 points

Port Adelaide v West Coast

Sorry to say but these two are really just making up the numbers, The Power are still yet to beat a team sitting inside the top eight. The West Coast snuck in by the smallest percentage but have played some average football at times. The Power at times have looked like world beaters but then the good sides have made them looked second rate. The Eagles have had a good run against the Power and Adelaide has been like a second home ground for them. This will be a close game but for the most part, the winner will be decided by who’s mids and forwards can get on top and which forward line can kick more accurately.
Predict Port win 17 points